Identifying the denture space.

Abstract

In the absence of pre-extraction records, the positioning of teeth on complete dentures is a somewhat arbitrary procedure. The present study was designed to evaluate a number of different criteria for tooth placement. Miniature foil strain gauges were used to measure the forces brought to bear on complete dentures by the lingual and peri-oral musculature. Previous studies of the pattern of post-extraction resorption found that the vestige of the lingual gingival margins of the maxillary teeth could be identified on the cast and it was suggested that these biometric guides are reliable for the correct placement of the upper artificial teeth. The results reported confirmed the use of biometric guides to tooth placement as a reliable method of positioning the teeth in Class I edentulous cases.